Locomotive journal box



A. F. PHELPS May 17, 1932.

LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL BOX Filed April 28, 1931 N w Q? Mari %e Patented May 17, 1932 sire STATES 1,ssa1a2 ARTHUR FRED PHELPS, OF BLUEFIELD, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO WEST VIRGINIA ARMATURE 00., OF BLUEFIELD, WEST VIRGINIA LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL BOX Application filed April 28,

The present invention relates to journal bearings for axles of car wheels and consists in the combinations and arrangements of elements hereinafter described and particu larly set forth in the accompanying claims.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a journal bearing especially adapted for axles of locomotive car wheels, and particularly of the type employed in working mines, which is flexible and will yield when put to extreme usages as when the locomotive becomes derailed through uneven or spread tracks, or from other cause. And in these emergencies the parts of the bearing will be automatically restored to their original or normal positions.

summarily stated, the improved journal bearing is characterized in having an upper fixed and a lower yieldable bearing block member engaging the car wheel axle and normally held in bearing engagement through resilient means permitting separation of the bearing parts a suificient distance to allow for undue stress to which the axle is subjected and which bearing parts will be automatically restored after said strains are relieved. The journal bearing is further designed with regard to simplicity of construction and ruggedness to theend of withstanding all ordinary kinds of mining use or abuse and which will stand up or give effective service until completely worn out. The purpose is to provide a yielding, strainresisting, flexible, and unbreakable journal box.

The construction disclosed herein shows one adaptation of the underlying principle of the invention and further modifications or adaptations thereof are disclosed in my four (4) co-pending applications for U. S. Letters Patents on Locomotive Journal Boxes executed and filed of even date, to wit: Serial Nos. 583,532 to 533,536, inclusive.

Outside frame carriages for mining cars do not require flexibility of construction to prevent breakage in their journal boxes or yielding in the lower halves thereof, because, being located at the ends of the axle and outside the track gauge, the degree of angular displacement is so slight under any circum- 1931, Serial No. 533,536.

stances compared with the vertical stroke of the journal box in its guides that there is little or no likeiihood of any breakage occurring. Furthermore, outside frame journal boxes are commonly solid castings and become rarely broken, while inside frame journal boxesas herein shown-must be of split or divided type for the-purpose of readily assembling on the axles between the driving wheels. In this position the radius of variation in height between thetwo boxes on the same axle is very short, and, since the normal movements of the journal box in its guides is vertical and never angular or rotary, beyond very slight limits, this variation sometimes reaches a great angle and tends to spread the topand bottom halves apart, throwing great strain on the clamped halves of'the box, which are commonly held together by machine bolts, screws, or lookpins. Frequently through such stresses the bolts become broken, pins are sheared, or the box is strained completely out of shape.

The invention disclosed herein proposes to overcome these disadvantages and to supply a wide felt need for a journal box for inside frame locomotives which will be proof against these injuries.

The invention is shown by way of illustration" in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a central sectional view,partly in elevation, of the locomotive journal box.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

' Figure 3 is an end elevation.

Figure at an end elevational view of the lower or movable bearing block; and,

Figure 5 a top plan view thereof. Referring to the construction in further detail and wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the different figures, the journal box comprises a suitable frame or supporting structure 6 having side portions 7, for mounting in the wheel truck or carriage of the car, and is designed to receive the usual upper fixed and lower movable axle bearing blocks 8 and 9, respectively, as shown. j

The lower bearing block 9 is designed-to have free vertical movement within the space of the support or frame 6 and is also adapted stantly subjected.

to have restricted angular or rotarylike movements to take up corresponding motion imparted to the axle of the locomotive through derailment or other. probable cause to which cars employed in mines are con- In such emergencies the invention permits such extreme usage ofthe car axle and operates to restore the movable journal part in normal position...

The means supporting the lower bearing block consists of two bolts 10 having heads 11 countersunkin openings 12 at the top of the frame 6, and passing wvith. an; appreciablyclose or tight fit through the openings 13 formed in the side portions of said frame member. Said bolts 10 are adapted to be conveniently inserted into position either before or'after placement'of the bearing block 9 and as conveniently removed from position either when said bearing block is in position or has been withdrawn.

The two bolt: members 10 freely pass through apertures 14 formed in the middle or opposed eyelet portions 15 of the block 9, and the dimensions of said eyelet portions permit free up and down movements and limited lateral or rotary-like motion to the block within the spaces or clearances formed between the movable block member and the sideportions of the frame 6. Said bearing block 9 is furtherprovided with extending side members 16 projecting. beyond thesides' i side member 15. A nut 21 secured on the end 22 of the bolt bears directly against the lower end of the spring 18 and serves for regulating the tension thereof. A cotter pin 23 on each bolt limits the downward screwing movement of the nut 21' and prevents loss thereof.

It will be understood the journal box herein disclosed is provided with all other essential devices for mounting the same in position on the truck or corresponding portion of the locomotive, and is likewise equipped with suitable means for supplying lubricant to the wheel axle bearing in the two blocks 8 andv 9, and withthe details of which construction the present invention is not concerned.

It will be further understood that those skilled in the art may vary the details of'construction and arrangement ofpartswithout departing from the spirit of'my invention; and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features except as required by the claim;

What is claimed as new is: A journal box for railway car axles comprising a suitable support having recesses in the base thereof, a fixed axle bearing block closely fitting in the upper'recess portion of said support, a lower axle bearing block having two opposed and insetting eyelet portions eral projecting elements to either side of said eyelet portions loosely embracing-the side walls of" said support, and springs on the bolts with-in the chambers beneath said eyelet portions resiliently sustaining the lower axle bearing block, said resilient means and bolts permitting of limited-angular movements of the lower block and-- restoring to normal position thereof, substantially as set In testimony'whereof l aflix my signature.

ARTHUR F. PHELPS. 

